I thought I would just provide an update on this, as it proved how valuable their landline was. They did get their line connected within a few days of me posting, however somewhere along the track it got switched to telecom. Anyway that doesn't matter. However a couple of weeks ago the guy had a stroke in the shower and collapsed unconscious, and the phone was used as the lifeline to call an ambulance. He has now recovered in hospital, but the outcome would have likely been different if the phone hasn't been connected. So it does show how important a phone line is to the elderly.